I don't own One Piece
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3RD Person
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"It appears that I got to you a little late, Katsu." Brook muttered, holding the unconscious teen. His attention was brought to her shadow, or rather her nonexistent shadow.
Brook had just managed to meet up with Robin and Franky when they all heard shrieking. The fear filled voice was one that all three recognized. The artist Robin and Franky had been searching for was located. Brook, having no organs and therefor faster, was the first one at the scene.
He had heard Hogback, meaning Katsu was being experimented on. Brook had managed to make a distraction, which caused Hogback to leave in a hurry. Though, by then Katsu had no shadow. Judging from the other tools lying around, Hogback was planning on something more than just taking her shadow.
"Brook, where'd-" Franky's attention went to the red head in the skeleton's arms. "Katsu! Is she okay?!"
Brook didn't say anything, though Robin noticed it first. "Her shadow."
"I didn't get here fast enough." Brook muttered, his shoulders sagging as he offered the teen to Franky.
Franky frowned looking at Katsu. She wasn't wearing her own clothes, which typically consisted of a blue undershirt with a plain white tee with the shoulders hanging over, as well as a pair of shorts. Now the teen wore a white wedding gown, which had no shoulders and clung tightly to her chest. His eyes wondered to her shoulder that was typically bandaged, expecting to see some injury. Now her shoulder was completely exposed, and Franky could see why Katsu tries to hide it.
Both straw hats stared for a moment in silence. One wondering if she could be a threat, the other wondering what exactly she had been through to receive that brand.
"We should try to regroup at the ship." Robin said, her eyes leaving the marine brand on Katsu's shoulder. She wiped clean the thought of Katsu being a threat. She was raised on an island made for pirates. Mamoru, Katsu's guardian, had claimed she had been saved from a marine ship. Robin knew she could still trust Katsu. The two straw hats started running, Brook being left behind.
Sanji was the first to notice Katsu had been taken. That had sparked a worry in the group, though Robin now realized the mistrust that had sparked in Sanji's eyes. He had seen her brand, yet he didn't say anything. Sanji wanted to trust her, but he was worried Katsu was working against them. Robin glanced down at the red head, she would make sure to clear those worries next time she saw Sanji.
Franky and Robin had noticed that Katsu had appeared out of it today. They knew something happened when they opened that barrel, and Katsu wasn't telling. While they didn't expect her to tell them, they still couldn't help but worry and hope she would share. Whatever had happened it had been distracting her.
"Robin, about Katsu's shoulder." Franky muttered, his eyes strained on the branded scar on her shoulder.
"We should cover it." Robin answered, "I wouldn't want a brand showing like that either."
The cyborg looked over the the ebony haired woman, a large frown on his face. "You don't think she's a spy?"
Robin shook her head, "No. They wouldn't have branded their logo onto a spy, it would give them away too easily. Something like that is given by force," Her eyes darkened as a thought came to her. "She was experimented on, that much we know for sure. With this brand I'm assuming they branded her arm as a symbol of ownership, claiming her as their property."
Franky's eyes widened, "What?!"
Before their conversation could continue, both strawhats heard shouting from two familiar voices. Robin looked at Franky, who now had Katsu over his shoulder.
"Get your dirty hands of my brothers-in-arms!" Franky shouted, attacking the zombies with salt.
"Big Bro!" Chopper cried, being released by the zombies who were purified.
"Robin!" Usopp joined in Chopper's cries.
Franky turned around, "Looks like we're too late, one of them is missing." It appeared that today wasn't their best day.
"Usopp. Chopper." Robin glanced at the two, "Are you hurt?"
Both quickly shook their heads, their eyes going onto the red head. "Katsu!" Chopper's eyes widened, "Is she okay?"
Franky frowned, looking at the girl on his shoulder, "We're not sure. All we really know right now is that her shadow was stolen."
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"That's weird." Hogback rubbed the back of his head. "I could have sword Moria needed me." Shrugging he threw open the doors to the operating room, a large grin on his face. "Sorry for the delay, little experiment-"
His throat constricted as he froze his eyes widening. "L-Little experiment?" His hand twitched as he looked at the table he was sure he had left the red haired female on. Hogback gulped, realizing the metal bindings were open.
"That's not possible." He whispered, running to the table and feeling the metal. His fears were reassured that the girl was gone. The red haired pirate, the marine's property, was gone. Looking beside him he looked at the needle he had injected her with. "This was certainly enough to knock her out for days! There was more than enough medicine for her weight. There's no way she could have woken up."
Turning around he looked at the corner of the room, where the girl's clothes laid. Her weapons still lay beside the forgotten clothes. Taking a deep breath, Hogback managed a shaky smile.
"I shouldn't be too worried. She doesn't have any weapons with her." He muttered, "She won't get too far, and Moria won't have to know." He paused walking towards the door, a book catching his attention.
Curiously, he flicked open the book. His eyebrow raising as he flipped through pages. It appeared to be filled with drawings, most of which were colored. There were few left in pencil, those were the most intriguing to Hogback.
"Now, what is she doing drawing Red Haired Shanks?" Hogback mused, "That man never had any kids."
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Having arrived at the Sunny, the remaining crew was relieved to see the monster trio there. Though they were placed in a ridiculous manner.
After Franky had carefully placed Katsu against the wall, he resumed in punching the three unresponsive males. It appeared that no amount would wake them, nor would physical harm.
"Can't they feel anything?" Franky demanded.
"I know what to do!" Usopp grinned, taking a deep breath. "Look, there's a beautiful female sword master carrying lots of meat!"
Instantly, the three males woke up. Each muttering something of interest.
"Beautiful female?!" Sanji muttered, a chopstick still in his nose.
"Meat?!" Luffy demanded.
"Sword master?" Zoro gruffed.
Seeing the situation of the trio, Chopper shouted in desperation. "We're doomed!"
Robin kneeled beside the sleeping girl. Worry laced her face as Katsu had yet to even move. Though even unconscious, the girls face was twisted into a fearful frown. Robin's eyes traveled back to Katsu's shoulder. Chopper didn't have any bandages on him while they were coming back to the Sunny, so Robin never had the chance to cover her shoulder like she had hoped to.
"Give me back my shadow!" Luffy growled, jumping up with a fist ready.
Franky help back Luffy by his head, "Calm down! Moria isn't here!"
"Hm? Where am I?" Luffy asked, looking around.
"We're on the Sunny," Franky sighed.
"Sunny?!" Luffy shouted blinking, "Why are we back where we started?!"
Sanji was the first of the trio to notice Katsu. His eyes morphing into hearts as he saw the female in a low cut dress, which he soon realized was a wedding dress. Though the hearts shattered when he realized her arm was exposed, as well as the fact she was unconscious.
"Katsu-chan!" Sanji yelled involuntary, drawing attention to the female.
"This is horrible!" Luffy shouted, stuffing his face with cheese. "All our food is gone!"
"Chopper! Did you take a look at Katsu?!" Sanji demanded, kneeling next to the girl.
"A-Ah! Yeah, all I know right now is that her shadow is gone and she was given a sedative." Chopper said. "I don't really know when she'll wake up though, since I don't know how much was given to her and what type."
"Cheese and dried bread isn't enough!" Luffy yelled, "Meat!!"
Becoming annoyed with his captain, Sanji sent a swift kick to Luffy's head. "Oi, baka captain! Didn't you notice there's more important things! Firstly, Katsu!" He paused, realizing someone was still missing. "Wait... Where's Nami?!"
Luffy looked at Katsu, his face stuffed with cheese. "Katsu's back." Shoving the last bit of cheese in his mouth tears came to his eyes. "My pirate lunchbox is gone too. Cheese isn't enough... Cheese isn't enough..."
Robin snapped her head back to Katsu, who had suddenly jerked her head. "Katsu?"
"No..." She muttered softly, her body twitching.
Her voice caught the attention of the others. As they looked towards her they felt a sudden large gust of wind as a shriek escaped Katsu. "Stop!"
The red haired female's eyes snapped open as she pushed anyone near her away. Fear clouded her eyes as she pushed herself against the wall behind her.
"P-Please..." She whimpered, her eyes blinking as everything adjusted itself. The image in her head slowly starting to fade as she was left with the concerned faces of her crew.
"Katsu?" Robin whispered, making the girl blink once more.
"R-Robin?" She rasped, looking around. "Where are we?"
"We're on the Sunny." Robin answered gently, seeing the girl visibly relax.
"What happened to you?" Usopp asked, making Katsu flinch and look down.
"That doesn't matter." Franky crossed his arms. He could see that it bothered her and she didn't want to talk about it.
"Why are you wearing a wedding dress?" Luffy asked, his mouth full of food. "Are you getting married?"
"Married?!" Sanji yelled, looking at Katsu.
"No." She muttered, "The invisible guy, at least that's what I think it is, changed his mind." Her eyes widened as she glanced at her arm, her other hand quickly covering it. Though she knew it may have been too late, she could only hope not many had seen it.
"Ah, who was it that helped me?" Katsu asked.
"Brook did, as well as Franky and I." Robin answered softly.
"Did you see my clothes? My weapons are with it, as well as my sketchbook." Katsu asked, her heart beating faster at the thought of her sketchbook.
Sadly, Robin shook her head. "We didn't even get a chance to look."
She rubbed her head in irritation, "Damn, I'll just have to go back." Though she didn't show it on the outside, the thought of going back made her heart race and her hands sweaty.
"Listen! Right now there are two things we have to get back!" Usopp shouted, breaking out conversation.
"Meat! Katsu's sketchbook! Nami!" Luffy shouted, "And out shadows! That's four."
"Uh... I don't think two of those make the list." Usopp muttered.
"Hey! Nami and meat are very important!" I protested, "We can't leave if our captain is hungry, or without our Navigator!"
"I wasn't including Nami..." Usopp whispered quietly to himself. "Anyway! Let me talk about Nami and the shadows first."
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"Getting married?! That's bull!" Sanji growled, "I won't let it happen!"
During Usopp's explanation on Nami, Katsu had left quickly to change.Seeing as how she was in a wedding dress, Usopp figured she was the first choice thrown away. He was smart enough not to mention it, figuring the girl's pride was injured.
When she had returned Usopp continued the explanation with the shadows. Katsu felt much more relaxed without the dress exposing her. Now she wore a loose fitting tank top with shorts that went down to her knees. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail and her arm was once again bandaged. As her daggers and gun were missing, she substituted for a sword. It wasn't her best weapon, but she could fight with it.
"He wants to marry Nami? That guy's got some guts." Luffy's jaw dropped. "So I'm a giant... And that's how zombies are made?"
"So you already saw Luffy's and ero cook's zombies?" Zoro asked.
"Hm? Oh, right. SO if the zombies become like the actual person I know who your zombie is Zoro." Luffy glanced at Zoro.
This caught the swordsman attention. "What's he like?"
"He was kinda like you. But he wore wooden clogs." Luffy answered. "I knew right away it wasn't you."
Katsu raised an eyebrow, for some reason she had a hard time believing her captain. Then she sighed. "So nobody's seen my zombie?"
This made each crew member pause and think. Then Chopper jumped up. "Oh! There was a squirl zombie muttering about drawing." He paused, "She was also muttering a lot about oranges."
Katsu's face flushed red at the mention of oranges. She had managed to hide her obsession from the strawhats. If she was honest, her obsession with the fruit was able to rival Luffy's meat obsession. It embarrassed her greatly.
"Now that you mention it, she always drinks orange flavored drinks." Robin muttered, smirking at the blushing girl. "And you always ask for oranges from Sanji as a snack. Actually, most of the time you're eating oranges."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Katsu denied, "It must be a zombie thing."
"Putting aside Katsu's obsession," Zoro said, making the girl redder in the face. "If we find those four zombies and put salt in their mouths our shadows will come back?" Franky nodded as an answer.
Katsu sighed, waling towards the edge of the ship. She was getting anxious, not only for her shadow but also for her treasure. That sketchbook had as much value as Luffy's straw hat. Now it laid somewhere in that castle, with all the creeps.
Having never been one to wait around, Katsu jumped over the rails. Her feet met the damp wood with a small thunk. This was one of her traits that irritated Mamoru the most, since she could never stay in the bar.
Feeling her pocket, she reassured herself that she had some salt. Hopefully on her way she would run into her zombie.
Looking back at the ship she shook her head. "They're sharing stories right now. I'll just go ahead." Jumping in place for a moment, she focused on the air molecules. It would save her time to skip the deep trench.
Taking her first jumped step, she wobbled for a moment. But by her third step the air was solid enough for her to run across. Katsu didn't look back at her crew, she would meet up with them later. Besides, it was best to keep her concentration on the air underneath her. She needed to get to the creepy forest before her devil fruit gave out.
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End of Chapter 17! Sorry for the super long wait! However if you guys have read any of my author notes on my other fanfic then you'll already know what's been going on. If you by chance don't, let me catch you up real quick. As I'm currently in collage for culinary at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) I've been really busy lately. And while almost everyone is out for summer, I am still in class... Yay... Anyway that means I really don't get a lot of time for updating and all that jazz. Thankfully today a little inspiration and free time hit me so I was able to update a chapter on this story. Hopefully I can update sooner next time...
I want to say there will be a new character introduced in the next chapter, but it could end up being the one after. However they will end up being a important character, and I am super excited to introduce them.
This is not edited.